COSBY v. CONGRSSIONAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION et al

Filing 3

MEMORANDUM OPINION Signed by Judge James E. Boasberg on 9/13/2011. (ls, )

FILED
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SfP 15 '2011
cel&rk. u.s. Distfict & Bankruptcy
ourts for the District of Columbia

LEONA M. COSBY,

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Plaintiff,

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v.

Civil Action No.

LJ

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CONGRESSIONAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, )
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Defendant.
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MEMORANDUM OPINION
This matter comes before the court on review of plaintiffs' applications to proceed in
forma pauperis and pro se civil complaint. The court will grant the applications, and dismiss the
complaint.
The Court has reviewed plaintiff s complaint, keeping in mind that complaints filed by
pro se litigants are held to less stringent standards than those applied to formal pleadings drafted
by lawyers. See Haines v, Kerner, 404 U.S. 519, 520 (1972). Evenpro se litigants, however,
must comply with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. Jarrell v. Tisch, 656 F. Supp. 237, 239
(D.D.C. 1987). Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires that a complaint
contain a short and plain statement of the grounds upon which the court's jurisdiction depends, a
short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief, and a demand
for judgment for the relief the pleader seeks. Fed. R. Civ. P. 8(a). The purpose of the minimum
standard of Rule 8 is to give fair notice to the defendants of the claim being asserted, sufficient to
prepare a responsive answer, to prepare an adequate defense and to determine whether the

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doctrine of res judicata applies. Brown v. Califano, 75 F.R.D. 497, 498 (D.D.C. 1977).
Plaintiff alleges that a deceased relative left her an inheritance, the amount of which she
does not know. Compi. at 1. She is "requesting that the truth come out." Id. The complaint
fails to comply with Rule 8(a) because it neither states a claim of entitlement to relief or makes a
demand for any particular relief. Insofar as plaintiff s claim deals with the disposition of
property after a person's death, it is doubtful that this Court has subject matter jurisdiction.
Accordingly, the complaint will be dismissed without prejudice.
An Order consistent with this Memorandum Opinion is issued separately.

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